Offering the Lifestyle Change Program as a Covered Benefit

Key points

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program can help your employees and covered members prevent type 2 diabetes. Find out more about the value of offering the lifestyle change program (LCP) as a covered benefit.

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Why offer the LCP?

Many insurance companies offer the LCP as a covered benefit in their insurance plans. Research shows that structured intervention reduced the incidence of diabetes by 58% among adults with prediabetes and by 71% in those aged 60 years or older.

The LCP provides your employees with a high quality, impactful experience tailored to people at high risk for type 2 diabetes. Participants learn how to:

  • Make better food choices.
  • Fit physical activity into their schedule.
  • Cope with stress.
  • Solve problems that get in the way of their goals.

Adding coverage

Providing coverage for the LCP matters. Research has found that LCP participants who received coverage for the program through their health insurance plan achieved slightly better health outcomes compared to people paying out of pocket or through a grant. Covering the LCP also improves accessibility and affordability for participants.

Hundreds of in-person and online offerings are available for the LCP throughout all 50 states. Talk to your carrier and local program providers about options for delivering the program. In some cases, trained coaches can come to your workplace to host sessions.

For more information about local program providers, visit Find a Program. If you want to offer your own worksite program, visit Lifestyle Change Program Providers to learn more. For technical information or answers to common questions, visit the National DPP Customer Service Center.

Photo of Lisa Peacock
Lisa Peacock, Director of Healthy Living Innovations: Chronic Disease Prevention, YMCA of Florida’s First Coast, Jacksonville, FL

“Florida Blue covers the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program for members in select markets. This partnership allows us to offer a proven program backed by a strong, sustainable business model.”

  • Vojta D, Koehler TB, Longjohn M, Lever JA, Caputo NF. A coordinated national model for diabetes prevention linking health systems to an evidence-based community program. Am J Prev Med. 2013;44(4Suppl4):S301–S306.